Best wiper blades?

The Bosch Icons here, same result for life expectancy and not that bad price wise if on sale.

 

I've been using the Bosch clear advantage beam style and have had good success. Price is great on rockauto . But always open for a better mousetrap. Don't see these silicone ones on rockauto yet.

 

The reason wipers chatter is because they don’t flop in both directions. The blades should flop 1 way on the downstroke and flop the other way on the upstroke, like dragging a flat blade shovel. When they don’t flop, it’s like pushing a flat blade shovel on rough concrete. To test for this, turn the key off when it’s in mid stroke. If on the upstroke or downstroke, it’s not flopped and dragging, there’s your problem. Old wipers that have baked in the park position for months in the sun, can take a bent set in the downstroke direction. Replace them at the beginning of fall. If new wipers still chatter, you may need to twist the wiper arm slightly. You can put a Crescent wrench on the arm near where the blade attaches and give it a slight twist. Keep trying til you get the blades to flop in both directions.

 

Oh, I dig the explanation and how to find out or diagnose, however I'd try parking the rubber in the other direction rather than any tweaking with a wrench. Cool description though.

 

Wiper arms are mass produced as a 1 size fits all. Sometimes with the angle of the wiper shafts and the curve of the windshield, “out of the box” is not ideal. It’s like shimming a ring and pinion to get proper tooth contact and backlash.

 

It doesn’t hurt anything. Your not trying to twist it off very little torque is needed. Most the time new blades take care of the problem but I’ve had to make small adjustments to the arm in the past but that’s the key small adjustments.

 

Its the rain-x drying out the rubber on your blades. Even though it looks cool with the water beading off the windshield, I avoid using rain-x.

Yes twisting the arm with a wrench so the blade is perpendicular to the glass helps. The arms will bend slightly over time.

NWB is the best brand in my opinion, thats the oem blade they get from the factory

Keep the windshield clean with glass cleaner, not much else to really do

 

There are several critical test/comparison parameters missing in those videos.

First, wipers are on high speed.
2nd, no effect of wind or air moving over the windshield. The air movement will blow water off and may effect the blade contact.

Cold flex....
A frozen wiper doesn't undergo the amount of flex as demonstrated. The wiper is "frozen" to match the curve of its parked position on the vehicle.

Life/weathering.......nothing.


Thanks just the same.
I have good results with applying Rain-X to the windshield and using ANCO blades. Regular replacement at first chatter and beginning of Fall/Winter season. Iowa weather is hard on wiper blades.

Rain-X applies a hydrophobic coating to the windshield. Zero impact to the wiper blades.

<edit> wiper chatter is caused by the oxidation of the blade material. The "rubber" becomes hard and will take a set in one of the "drag" positions. Have you noticed, the blades typically chatter in one direction? Also dirty blades or windshield can aggravate the chatter.

 

might have to just buy OEM arms (more expensive than inserts) because I have probably shitty Wal-Mart ones right now, to replace them
and then maybe replace the insert (cheaper) in the OEM arm later on as needed when it wears out but to re-use the arm a few times while it still has spring tension

not sure what those even do, how they fit, etc

 

Well the area where I work and the truck is parked 8 hrs a day 5 days a week is just next
to a concrete plant that makes these huge bridge sections. and on a windy day it
blows sand and dust all over our parking lot and cars. Not real good but nothing I can
do to protect it . The fact this is hot florida sun and the drag/ chatter is in only one
direction tells me most likely the blades need to be replaced. I like the rain x it seems
to work well when coated twice in one session. For me it last about 6 weeks then time
to apply again.

 

You wonder why there so many votes for OEM? It’s because OEM fits it is designed for this application whereas those one size multiple applications is a comprise at best. This is not just Toyota thing either you’ll see this on most makes, but if just good enough is for you then buy the off brand replacements. Close enough for government work right?
Speaking of government work Rain X came from military and defense contractor Boeing. Look it up they call it Rainboe and it’s been around since 1950s. If you like that there are some ceramic products you can apply which last for years if done correctly.

 

They sell washer fluid which has rain x built in. It works for me

 

I think @No Shoes Nation is referring to a boot on the blade, not on the arm. See the middle one:

 

I had good experience with Bosch Icons on my previous 2nd gen. Now I'm forced into them because my fiberglass hood doesn't come with washer nozzle holes, so I had to install Mercedes Sprinter nozzles on the wiper arm, and the higher OEM blade frame would block the nozzle

 

So my wife is super critical about wiper blades.
She complains about how they suck etc.
I’ve done just about everything made.
Probably more to do with driver age.
Figure I’d try something different.

$33 Spearhead THUNDER 24"+18" Hybrid Wiper Blades w/Neoprene Infused Rubber, Outwipes Silicone (Pair)

https://smile.amazon.com/Spearhead-Neoprene-Outwipes-Silicone-Warranty/dp/B083RL2BY9
They are what was used on the freakin space shuttle!
Gotta say they work well.
She loves them.
Seller gave me a code for a free set.
So I got a spare pair for hers and ordered these for me.

Spearhead Beam Force XTREME 22”+21” Wiper Blades w/Japanese Fukoku Rubber for Longest Life (Pair)

https://smile.amazon.com/XTREME-Blades-Japanese-Longest-Warranty/dp/B07MJY7CPL
Cant say how they last 3 months only so far.
But wind rain snow one wipe and clear.
Little to no moisture they still didn’t streak.
My 08 was totaled day before thanksgiving and they were one of the items I salvaged before it went!!
When she complains I’ll update!!

 

I wonder what the purpose is
One time I left my wipers down during snow to see what would happen (people normally raise them up)
and they got stuck for a few minutes

I think my old Audi even had heated washer jet sprayers. Or metal pipe heaters that route inside of the washer fluid tank, that heat the fluid.
And heated seats. And heated mirrors. All things this Tacoma that's years newer and costs 3x more doesn't seem to have at all...

reminds me of it's wiper blades, "Aero Wipers" as they're called
no metal framework to them (spring steel insert) like you'd find on a 1980 GMC
best wipers I ever had, smooth, quiet, no streaking, lasting maybe a year per set and cleanable with towel + cleaner

looks like this



I wonder if you can cut holes in the hood for some
gives you many options to pick from of different make/model vehicle spray nozzles, that all have different spray nozzles to pick from
I've seen 3-hole nozzles can be cleaned with a pick tool if they clog
but idk if other designs (like fan spray mist) are cleanable or not, or why some cars even get clogged while others don't
My taco ones don't seem clogged yet

 

He did a driving and 1 year sun exposure test in the second video, granted it's not quite real world but it's still good information.

 

^^^ have the urge to shop now...so much for Amazon resolution thanks buddyjust kidding. I like rain-x too but have suspicion it could be detrimental to wiper blade life. Get a little bit of that rain-x on rubber trim...it eats it up. I just don't put the stuff on where the wipers park.

 

I didn't know the inserts were still available. Back in the day that was what was always replaced, but for the last several years, I haven't seen them. Now that my oem blades have been replaced will I need to get new oem toyota blades so the Toyota inserts will work? Glad to know they are still available.

 

I get 2 years out of a set of the Toyota Sightline Hybrid Blades. I'll hit the blades periodically (maybe every 3 months) with alcohol. Can find them on sale for 15.99 each.